Sukhoi Superjet 100 Makes First Appearance in Italy

The third Sukhoi Superjet 100 landed in Italy for the first time yesterday at Turin Caselle Airport, where it continued its flight test campaign in preparation for expected year-end certification. The aircraft (prototype S/N 950004) took off from the Sukhoi Civil Aircraft’s flight test center in Zhukovsky, near Moscow.

Operated by Sukhoi Civil Aircraft’s test pilots Yablontsev Alexander, Korostiev Sergey, Shvetsov Oleg and Gryukanov Maksim, S/N 950004 will undergo several tests, including noise community and high intensity radiated field trials during its month-long stay in Italy.

SCAC has scheduled testing to occur in Levaldigi airport and at the Alenia Aeronautica facilities in Turin-Caselle airport.

As part of the certification campaign, engineers will subject the prototype to an evaluation of the electromagnetic compatibility requirements for civil aircraft, ensuring the aircraft’s ability of operating safely in the man-made electromagnetic environment.

As of now the SSJ100 program has accumulated more than 2,010 flight hours during 814 flights, accounting for about 70 percent of its certification requirements, including what Sukhoi characterized as the most critical tests. The SSJ100 has successfully passed a series of testing in extreme weather conditions in Yakutsk and Arkhangelsk, Russia and a high elevation program in Gumri, Armenia. Those trials, according to SCAC, confirmed that the airplane needed no further changes to its basic configuration.

Of the 18 serial aircraft in various stages of production, six have reached the final assembly shop, said Sukhoi.